Slaying suspect in West Virginia doesn't contest extradition

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A man arrested in Pennsylvania will be returned to West Virginia to face charges in the fatal shootings of three men, authorities said Friday.

Erick Shute, 32, was arrested Tuesday in Chester County, Pennsylvania. According to Chester County District Attorney Thomas Hogan's office, Shute did not contest his extradition at a hearing Friday, and West Virginia authorities are expected to transport him back to Morgan County by July 1.

Shute is accused in Monday's shooting near Cacapon Resort State Park in Morgan County. Shambaugh earlier identified the victims as Jack Douglas of Great Cacapon, and Travis Bartley and Willie Bartley, both of Hedgesville.

Shambaugh had said the shooting involved an apparent property dispute.

Shute was a longtime vocalist for the New York City death metal band Pyrexia, according to the website of the band's record label, Unique Leader Records.

In Pennsville Township, New Jersey, where Shute used to live, Police Chief Allen Cummings said Shute was involved in the anti-government sovereign-citizen movement. Sovereign citizens are people who reject their U.S. citizenship and don't recognize laws, taxes and other types of government authority.

In 2009, Shute drew the Pennsville community's backlash when he hung an American flag upside down, calling it a message of distress about the government.

In 2011, Shute asked Pennsville police to sign a peace treaty allowing him to drive his car without registration but police wouldn't agree to it, said Bill Brennan, first assistant prosecutor in Salem County, New Jersey.

According to Cummings, Shute was then pulled over for having fake license plates he made of cardboard. Shute also had a fake driver's license he made himself. During the traffic stop, Shute rolled up his car window on an officer's arm, Cummings said.

Brennan said Shute was convicted in 2012 of fourth-degree resisting arrest.

Shute also once filed a lawsuit that went nowhere against Pennsville Township and the police department, and personally delivered a subpoena to Cummings' home, Cummings said.